Indonesia Denies National Disaster Status Despite Record Wildfire Damage

Key summary

Nusantara Atlas reports that wildfires in Indonesia burned approximately 1.92 million hectares between January and September 2026, with the actual area likely higher due to smoke obscuring satellite imagery. While the Indonesian government insists it can manage the situation without declaring a national disaster, Nusantara Atlas founder David Gavo notes that the current burn area is already 38% higher than the same period in 2022 and compares the scale of destruction to nearly 12 times the size of London.